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| R&R Research violations | 2005, Accepting other animals improperly: R&R Research was fined $3,780 in 2005 for accepting animals from the Howard City Department of Public Works.
Village workers picked up 18 stray animals and forwarded them to R&R Research on 13 occasions. Federal regulations allow the business to accept animals from their owners or a registered municipal animal shelter.
Woudenberg said he no longer accepts animals from the village of Howard City.
"We assisted our local government for 20 years," he said. "When we found out it was not in compliance with USDA guidelines we ceased that practice and paid the fine."
1997, Phone book advertisement: The Michigan Attorney General's Office issued an opinion in 1997 directing Woudenberg to "cease and desist" from advertising R&R Research as an animal shelter in local telephone books.
Cheryl McCloud of Newaygo, operator of Lake Haven Animal Rescue, complained to the attorney general about the practice, claiming it was misleading.
Woudenberg said the advertisement was meant to assist people looking for lost animals and provide contact information for pet owners hoping to surrender their animals for research.
"It was only in the phone book for free and it clearly stated 'research,'" he said. "There is no false premise of trying to mislead people."
1997, Inspections: The USDA found several violations during a May 1997 annual inspection of R&R Research. The eight violations included in the report involved expired medications and chemicals found at the business.
Woudenberg said he typically keeps $2,000 to $5,000 in medications in stock. If he finds any expired he discards it.
A follow-up inspection in July 1997 found those violations had been corrected but found another dog had a tight collar and required treatment.
Woudenberg said these types of violations are common for any business.
"If you look at any business that has been in business for 40 years and inspect it every year you're going to find some violations," he said. "Anytime we are cited we make every effort to correct it and come into compliance."
1993, Ionia County: In 1993, Woudenberg was implicated in an alleged fraud that led to the ouster of Ionia County's former animal control director, David Seidelman.
Two dogs - a 7-year-old yellow Labrador and a 4-month-old beagle - belonging to Kim Snyder escaped from their home south of Palo. Neither dog was wearing a collar or identification tag.
Seidelman improperly allowed Woudenberg to pick up both dogs before telling Snyder that Seidelman had shot them. Woudenberg originally told then-Det. Dwain Dennis he had no record of picking up a live golden Lab around that time, but later located it at his facility and returned it to Snyder.
Seidelman admitted to Ionia County sheriff's investigators he altered the shelter's records to indicate the Lab was shot when he had actually taken it back to the shelter alive and allowed Woudenberg to take it.
Seidelman was charged with willful neglect of duty and failure to uphold the law as a public officer. Woudenberg was not charged criminally in connection to the incident.
Snyder sued Woudenberg and R&R Research along with Ionia County, former Animal Control Officer Stanley Hoskins and Seidelman in July 1994 for wrongdoing in the case. The case was settled in mediation in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids, with Woudenberg and Seidelman paying a $13,500 award to Snyder and her children.
Woudenberg doesn't believe he did anything wrong in the case.
"I'm sorry Mr. Seidelman lied," Woudenberg said. "We were in full compliance with the law and cooperated with law enforcement completely."
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4/18/2009 12:40:00 AM
R&R Research decision looms
USDA investigating R&R Research
Ryan Jeltema
News Editor
GREENVILLE - More trouble could be on the way for R&R Research.
While the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners is considering an end to the Howard City business' 30-year relationship with the County Animal Shelter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has notified R&R owner Jim Woudenberg that it is investigating his firm.
USDA spokeswoman Jessica Miltier said the investigation involves animals R&R Research improperly accepted. She did not comment on how long the investigation has been under way or when it might be complete.
"R&R was cited for an acquisition of animals issue and we are continuing to look at that," Miltier said.
Woudenberg said he disagrees with the USDA over its guidelines for accepting animals from private citizens. He said when people drop off animals he must take their word that they raised the animals from birth as required by USDA guidelines.
Woudenberg believes the USDA's guidelines don't properly account for people lying to dealers about where they got animals they are surrendering, only to change their story when contacted by USDA investigators for routine random audits, which he blames for the background to the investigation.
"In this instance we have taken all possible steps to ensure compliance only to have an individual change their story," Woudenberg wrote in a letter to USDA Regional Director for Animal Care Elizabeth Goldentyer on Dec. 3, 2008. "Now we are being cited for someone else's dishonesty."
Inspections in 2007 and 2008 also showed that R&R Research improperly accepted dogs and cats from local residents that were not born on their property. This isn't the first time R&R Research has been investigated. (See accompanying box for details of R&R's past violations.)
Dr. Randy Carpenter of Greenville, a member of the County Animal Shelter Ad Hoc Committee, said commissioners should look carefully at the violations before they decide on whether to extend R&R Research's contract on April 27.
"As a contractor with the county he should be above that," Carpenter said of Woudenberg.
District 3 Commissioner Ron Retzloff said the violations will weigh heavily on his vote.
"I don't feel it's right to continue to do business with a place that has violations," he said. "Basically, it's saying we condone the violations because we continue to do business with him."
Retzloff is most concerned about the frequency of the violations.
"It's not just new things and it's not just old things. It's a continual thing," he said. "I've been fighting against working with a Class B dealer for about 12 years now. Even if I say it's OK to deal with a Class B dealer I would think that with his history enough is enough."
Chairman and District 7 Commissioner Patrick Q. Carr and District 5 Commissioner Carl Paepke believe the violations aren't very serious, however. Paepke said they have been blown out of proportion by R&R Research's opponents.
"Those violations were all checked out by the Agriculture Department," he said. "Those in favor of the animals misconstrue that. His neighbors think the world of him. He's an honest person. You wouldn't think so listening to the people who love animals."
Carr admitted he hasn't delved into each alleged violation in depth but he accepts Woudenberg's explanations for the violations he has investigated.
"He still has a license with the USDA," Carr said. "He couldn't be that bad or he wouldn't have a license."
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Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Nancy
Every article that I've read show "Woody" claiming that someone is lying. No matter what the charge is, someone is lying. Whatever, the truth is out and now everyone has seen it. Maybe once he's gone, Montcalm county can start being proud of itself again.
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Article comment by:
Common Sense
Woudenburg is NOT the only person who CAN or SHOULD be investigated...Audits can be performed as well on Mr. Carr and his illegal dealings with Mr. Woudenburg to ensure there has been no money transfers...even if there was not, sure would be a pain in the butt for Mr. Carr to let him know he is not off the hook either!
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Article comment by:
TimM
Is it time to call in someone to investigate other county contracts? Or is it just the Carr/Woudenberg connection that is so "special"?
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Article comment by:
Roberta
"Once the R&R problem comes to a close maybe it's time to investigate the balance of Montcalm's contracts. It would be interesting to find out how many other contracts have been awarded to Carr's buddies."
Joyce, I couldn't agree with you more.
"He still has a license with the USDA," Carr said. "He couldn't be that bad or he wouldn't have a license."
Carr obviously conducts county business by some pretty low standards.
**Only 25% of the votes from Carr's district are needed to RECALL him.**
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009
Article comment by:
greenville resident
Thank you for posting this YouTube Video. It's a good update for anyone who doesn't remember this. Has anything really changed? NO.
Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Article comment by: youtube junkie
Visit youtube.com to see Mr. Woudenberg in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em1kM_Toz-U
Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Article comment by:
Mary Ellen Snyder
I am thrilled with the timing of this investigation! This certainly should reinforce those votes to non-renew the contract and maybe sway the others or at least embarrass them.
Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Article comment by:
JoyceM
What is it going to take for Carr to stop supporting Woudenberg?
Woudenberg refuses to answer questions relating to the animals he's taken from the shelter repeatedly breaks the law and blames everyone else for his problems, yet Carr still stands by his buddy. What exactly have YOU gotten out of R&R's contract Mr. Carr?
Once the R&R problem comes to a close maybe it's time to investigate the balance of Montcalm's contracts. It would be interesting to find out how many other contracts have been awarded to Carr's buddies.
Mr. Carr, you're starting to look like the Montcalm version of Kwame Kilpatrick with Woudenberg being your Christine Beatty.
Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Article comment by:
Mr Bobo
these 3 monkeys need to loose their jobs ASAP!!! If any of us pulled HALF of the crap these criminals are pulling they would fire us fast! It's Poo-Flinging Time!!!!
Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Article comment by:
Jim
I have Band-Aids for all of your bleeding hearts.
Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Article comment by:
Who is the Majority
Yea, I think the County needs to vote to show Mr. Carr what MAJORITY really means...when he is voted out, maybe then the math will truly make sense to him????
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